Patty's Knight: A Novel

By Duke Dupree

Patricia Henderson became a very talented pianist.  She was taught by her maternal grandmother who was a concert pianist.  Patricia also became rich since her paternal grandfather, who made it big in the Texas oil industry, endowed her with a generous trust when she turned 21.  She became despondent after she was in a horrific automobile accident that left her a paraplegic.  Then she met Rick.

John Richard Ducheyene (pronounced du kane) and called Rick by all who knew him, was born and raised in a Central Texas farming community.  He lost his parents at age 15 and was under the guardianship of an uncle who sat Rick up really well financially on his 21st birthday.  Rick also took flying lessons his senior year in high school and obtained his pilot's license by the time he graduated.  During his college years he studied the stock market and became a successful investor.  One of his electives in college was a music appreciation class and he fell in love with classical music.  He enjoyed live concerts and stage plays, especially musicals.  It was at a classical music concert that he saw Patricia Henderson.

Rick and Patricia met in a most unique way.  From the time they first met they wanted to see more of each other and began dating.  It is interesting how they overcame Patricia's handicap and amazing how they dealt with it.  The novel describes their courtship, their ups and downs, and the thrilling sub-plots along the way, leading up to the dramatic climax of the story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781662406782

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Patty's Knight

A Novel

Duke Dupree

Copyright © 2020 Duke Dupree

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2020

ISBN 978-1-6624-0677-5 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-6624-0678-2 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Dedicated to my dear wife, Ouida, who has tolerated me for the past 40 years.

Preface

The story you’re about to read is primarily a love story. There will be several subplots featuring the different people in the book, but the main theme is the undying love shared by the two main characters.

Please keep in mind that in the time when the events took place, the late ’50s, the aviation industry was just beginning to get into commercial jets. In fact, the commercial air transports were still of the piston-propeller type aircraft. Turbo props and jets hadn’t been in use yet.

Also, keep in mind, as you read this story, that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) wasn’t enacted into law until 1990. Events in this story occurred mostly in the late 1950s. Up until the ADA was made into law, and modifications constructed, handicapped persons, especially those confined to wheelchairs, had a tough time maneuvering in public. In fact, it was almost an impossibility unless a lot of help was available. There were no ramps, no special parking spaces, no bars in public restrooms, few electric doors, few elevators that would accommodate wheelchairs, and no accommodations were required. Even getting in and out of a car without help was very difficult.

While there will be some mention of real-life business and products, the events, businesses owned and operated by characters in the book, and the characters themselves are totally fictional. Any similarity to actual persons or entities is purely coincidental.

Some events are described in intricate detail to provide a complete understanding to the reader unfamiliar with the topic.

I sincerely hope you enjoy reading Patty’s Knight as much as I did writing it.

Chapter 1

John Buckley Henderson, called J. B. by family and friends, was born on July 4, 1883. He was the son of a blacksmith and grew up in that business. The Hendersons also owned and operated a farm in Rusk County, Texas, and the blacksmith shop was on part of that farm. The farm consisted of 320 acres, and they grew corn and hay, raised cattle, and had the usual farm animals like chickens, pigs, and a milk cow. Their garden provided fresh vegetables, and canning along with a smokehouse gave them plenty of food year-round.

J. B. showed at an early age that he wasn’t just an ordinary young man. He learned the blacksmith trade in his teens but didn’t take much interest in farming. He was a master farrier and became an innovative wheelwright. The blacksmith shop soon expanded into repairing and rebuilding wheels.

At seventeen years of age, J. B. took over running the blacksmith shop and hired another man to assist in keeping up with the work while his father operated the farm.

In 1905 J. B. met and married Patricia Jean Hallum. In September 1907 a son was born to the Hendersons whom they named Howard Buckley Henderson.

J. B. also became interested in forging iron and steel. In 1906 he added a foundry and had to hire two more employees. In 1909 he started a machine shop, and by 1912 he had seven employees.

Also in 1912 a second son was born to J. B. and Patricia, and they gave him the name of John Hallum Henderson. J. B. was devastated by the death of his beloved wife, who died during childbirth.

Soon after, J. B.’s father could no longer manage the farm due to a stroke. He moved to Tyler and stayed with a sister who looked after him until he died.

J. B. knew he couldn’t farm and also run the factory, as he now called it. He was at a loss as to what to do when one of his better employees, Bill Haltom, told him he had to quit and do something for his aunt and uncle. Their house caught on fire and burned completely to the ground along with all the outbuildings, farm equipment, and even the pickup truck. J. B. knew the Haltoms were good farm folks, and that gave him an idea. J. B. asked Bill to bring his aunt and uncle to his farm because he would like to talk to them.

Mr. and Mrs. Haltom came to the farm and met with J. B. He told them that since tragedy had struck them both, maybe they could help each other. He stated his wife passed away and left him with two small sons. My father had to give up farming this place, and I don’t have time. Here’s my proposition. You folks move in here as your residence. Mrs. Haltom helps raise the boys, does all the housework, cooks for all of us, and just generally runs the house. Mr. Haltom, you take over the farm. I’ve got good equipment you can use to farm both this land and your own. You can have the yields on the farms for yourself, except I will need enough from it to feed me and my boys. The rest is yours.

Mrs. Haltom stated she made a big garden each year and canned stuff for the winter.

Again, said J. B., I would want only enough to feed me and my boys. The rest is yours. You should actually make more from farming both places than you did from just your own. That’s my proposition.

Mr. and Mrs. Haltom looked at each other for a moment, then Mr. Haltom stuck out his hand and said, You’ve got yourself a deal.

J. B. shook hands and said, Okay then, it’s a deal.

In those days when two people shook hands on a bargain, it was ironclad. No written contracts, no whereas or wherefore. It was done and neither party would welsh.

Mrs. Haltom, who never had children, grew to love the Henderson boys as though they were her own. They loved her too.

Now that J. B. had his home life straightened out, he concentrated on building his business. By 1925 he had seventeen employees. His oldest boy, Howard, was entering college in Austin at the university. Things were going good for J. B. Then the Great Depression hit. By 1930 J. B. had only four employees left. He was struggling to keep his head above water. He was shoeing a lot of horses and mules, but oftentimes his pay was in the form of chickens, hogs, eggs, and produce, but very little cash. The farm was what kept them from starving. J. B. was able to scrape enough money together to buy flour, sugar, coffee, and other staples. From money he had previously put away, he managed to send Hal, as he called his younger son, to Rice University in Houston.

Then all hell broke loose in East Texas. Dad Joiner hit an oil well at just over 3,500 feet deep that gushed barrels of oil. The well was just a short distance from the Henderson and Haltom farms.

Back in 1911 and 1912 some oil drilling had taken place in the area without much luck. The old rigs they used, of the cable tool variety, just weren’t designed to go deep enough. J. B., being the innovator he was, had designed a rotary rig and had actually started constructing it in 1914. He broke out his design, modified it, and finished building it. Rather than drill on someone else’s property, he spudded in on his own and drilled a well. He hit oil at 3,556 feet and it tested 320 barrels a day. He also started forging angle iron and building derricks. He built two more drilling rigs and started leasing oil rights. Howard was back from college, so J. B. put Howard in charge of all oil operations, which was now outpacing the factory as far as revenue.

The factory was building up fast, though. Total employees, not counting J. B., were twenty-three.

J. B. got the idea of building pipeline gathering systems so that the oil from several wells could be gathered in banks of tanks and trucked from there instead of from each wellhead. The foundry branched out into building steel pipe. They started building two inch, then went to four inch, and finally started constructing six inch. Pipe was selling like hotcakes. The factory was now up to twenty-seven employees. With all the equipment repairs needed, the small machine shop was working two shifts. The factory also started constructing oil tanks. Small ones at first to support the gathering systems, but now they were getting into constructing large tanks on site.

J. B. pulled Howard into his office one day and told him he was taking him off the oil operations. Howard was stunned and he told J. B. he thought he was doing a good job of running the oil business. J. B. told Howard he was doing a great job. But I’ve got a more important job for you to do. You’ve noticed that I’ve built a pretty good-sized tank farm here on the property. The big refineries are in the Houston area, so I want to build a pipeline from here to Houston. Your new assignment is to start acquiring rights-of-way between here and Houston. Howard told his father he’d have to go to Dallas and study up on how to go about the technical process of obtaining a right-of-way.

I’ll need to know the legalities and learn what forms to use, said Howard.

Do what you have to do, but don’t take too long, stated J. B.

Howard had been training someone to help him, so he told the guy he was in charge until he returned. He rode the bus to Longview and caught the train to Dallas. He checked into the Baker Hotel and took a cab to the SMU library. He studied for four days and finally thought he knew enough to start buying leases. He went into a large law office to inquire about the forms he needed for pipeline right-of-way acquisition. Howard knew the forms he needed but didn’t know where to buy them. The receptionist in the law office gave Howard the address and phone number of the company that produced the forms. She told him they had scads of them and gave him a handful to get started. That’s all Howard lacked to start acquiring rights-of-way, so he headed back to the factory.

When he returned, he told J. B. he was ready to start buying up leases but wanted to know what he was to use for money. J. B. told Howard he had opened a special checking account at their Tyler bank with an initial deposit of $30,000.

When you spend that, there’ll be more, but get those signatures, said J. B. He gave Howard the checkbook to the special account. Before Howard left, he told the girl in the office to order him three boxes each of the forms he needed.

Howard started buying up rights-of-way. It wasn’t as hard as he anticipated. Because of the depression, cash was still hard to come by, and if a farmer could get money for leasing part of his ground for a pipe that would be buried six to eight feet beneath the surface, which wouldn’t interfere with farming, he was all for it. Some were a bit reluctant, but most were very receptive to getting the cash. Howard was gone for about a week and ran out of some of his forms, so he headed back to the factory. His boxes of forms had arrived, so he was back in business.

Howard turned over his completed forms to J. B. with a map showing how far he’d gone. J. B. told Howard that he’d made good progress, so pipeline construction and right-of-way clearance will start in a few days. When you buy all the way into Houston, we’ll need to acquire some property in the oil district, so keep that in mind and your eyes open, said J. B.

Howard continued to buy up right-of-way. He had acquired all the alley needed to lay a pipeline from their East Texas property to Houston. He began looking for property adjacent to his right-of-way in the oil district. He found a forty-five-acre tract for sale, but the price was high. He phoned J. B. and told him he’d found this forty-five-acre tract, but the price was exorbitant. Pay it, said J. B., it’ll be worth three times that much next year. Howard put a contract on the property and acquired it. J. B. sent his tank construction crew to Houston to start building tanks on the forty-five-acre tract.

Howard contacted refineries and told them he had access to the East Texas field by pipeline into his tanks. In two short months, he had constructed pipelines to the refineries with flow meters to determine the amount of oil delivered.

An office was constructed on the grounds of the Henderson tank farm, and Howard resumed control of all Henderson oil operations from East Texas to Houston. Howard needed someone to help in the office. He didn’t need just a secretary but someone who could be his executive assistant, write checks, answer the phone, keep books, and generally run the office. He had to travel between his East Texas interests and his Houston operation. The money was beginning to roll in. Howard interviewed several people, men and women, and decided on a recent business school graduate named Delia McPherson. Miss McPherson was a hard worker and often stayed with Howard to complete the day’s work.

One evening Howard asked her out for dinner, and she accepted. They had both taken their cars, so they departed the restaurant separately.

The next weekend Howard asked Delia if she would like to go to a dinner theater that provided a stage play. She said she would love to. He told Delia he would call for her at 4:30 p.m., and they’d have cocktails and dinner and take in the play. Howard had bought a 1932 Lincoln convertible and called for Delia at her house, where she lived with her parents. Howard also met Delia’s parents and was very respectful. Howard couldn’t help but notice the beautiful concert grand piano and commented on how regal it looked. Delia told Howard that up until recently, her mother was a concert pianist. Her father was a professor of English at the University of Houston.

After the play, Howard took Delia up to his apartment and plied her with whiskey. He said, Why don’t we retire to the bedroom?

Delia said, Because I have to go home. I have no intention of sleeping with you now or ever. If you won’t take me home, I’ll call a cab. Also, you’ll have my resignation in the morning.

Howard said, Of course I’ll take you home, which he did.

The next morning Delia reported for work at the regular time, and Howard said, I’m sure glad you didn’t quit. Delia threw her resignation on his desk and told him she only came by to resign and abruptly walked out.

Delia was a very capable office worker and found work that same day. Howard was devastated. He really liked Delia and wished he hadn’t moved so fast with her. Keeping all the royalty accounts and payments separate really required a lot of work. Howard hired two more people to help him in the office. He needed more and had to have someone in charge. Delia McPherson was the only one he knew that could handle the job.

Howard went by a confectionary, bought a box of expensive candy, and drove to the McPherson’s house. After he knocked, Mrs. McPherson answered the door and invited him in. He asked to see Delia, and Mrs. McPherson said she would let Delia know Howard was here to see her, but she didn’t know if Delia would see him. Mr. McPherson came in and spoke to Howard and shook hands with him.

Delia came in and spoke to Howard very coolly. Howard handed her the candy and told her he knew it wasn’t much of a peace offering, but he hoped she liked it.

It’s fine, said Delia, still very cool.

Howard said, I came to talk to you about coming back to work for me.

Out of the question, said Delia.

Please hear me out, said Howard.

Very well, said Delia, we can talk in the dining room.

They went to the dining room and sat down across from each other.

Howard said, Delia, my business is growing rapidly. I’ve hired two people to work in the office, but I need someone in charge who can organize and manage the operation. I want you back. If you recall, we worked quite well together, and I desperately need you to come back. I can give you a nice raise and the job doesn’t include going out with me.

Delia smiled and said, Let me think about it, Howard. I was getting ready to leave where I am because the work is so dull. The work I was doing for you was exciting and interesting. You’re saying the new job would require managing the entire office?

Yes, said Howard, and that would include hiring and firing staff.

When do you need my answer? asked Delia.

As soon as possible, said Howard. Work is piling up, and if you do come back, you’ll probably have to hire some more people.

Very well, said Delia, I’ll let you know tomorrow.

Thank you, Delia, said Howard. In addition to a nice salary, I can pay you a periodic bonus.

While the money is interesting, said Delia, the job is what really appeals to me.

Then I’ll eagerly await your decision tomorrow, said Howard. He stood up, shook hands with Delia and Mr. McPherson on his way out, and went home.

At eight o’clock the next morning, Delia appeared at Howard’s office. Howard jumped up and said, Good morning, Delia.

Delia said, I just wanted you to know that I’m accepting the job offer you made last night. Right now I’m on my way to resign my present job and collect my paycheck. I’ll be gone a couple of hours, but I can come back here and finish the day out if you like.

Howard said, I certainly do like. As far as I’m concerned, you were on the payroll the second you walked through that door. He took Delia out through the office and told the girls working there that he wanted them to meet their new boss. Delia introduced herself and told them she had some business to handle and she would return in a couple of hours.

J. B. came to Houston to see Hal act in a play staged by his drama class at the college. Howard introduced J. B. to Delia and the rest of the office staff and told his father that Delia was his right arm. They went back into Howard’s office and J. B. said, Are you seeing that Delia away from the office?

"Why do you ask? said Howard.

Because she’s a beauty and you need to be thinking about marriage, said J. B.

Truth be known, Papa, she won’t have anything to do with me outside the office, said Howard.

Too bad, said J. B.

Actually, Papa, I dated her a couple of times when she worked here before, and she got so mad at me, she quit, said Howard. I had a hell of a time getting her to come back.

What did you do, try to get in her pants on the first date? asked J. B.

Something like that, I guess, said Howard.

I don’t blame her for getting pissed off at you, said J. B.

Howard said, Papa, I’ve got to go check a flow meter. We just pumped one of the eighty-thousand-barrel tanks to a refinery, do you want to go with me?

No, I think I’ll stay here, son, said J. B. Howard was gone about an hour before he returned. I had a nice long talk with Delia while you were gone. She is one sharp cookie, said J. B.

Like I say, Papa, she’s been my right arm. I’m paying her a good bonus in December as an incentive to keep her with me, said Howard.

You ought to marry that girl, said J. B.

I assured her when she was rehired that going out with me wasn’t part of the job, said Howard. Howard stuck his head into Delia’s office and told her they were leaving to go see Hal perform in a play at school. She told Howard to be sure and say hello to Hal for her. He assured her he would.

J. B., having overheard their conversation, said, Hey, Delia, would you like to go with us? You said Hal worked closely with you when he was helping out here.

Well, said Delia, I’d love to, but I’ll have to go home and change first.

Good, said J. B., we’ll come by and pick you up on the way. Howard was stunned, first that J. B. asked Delia to go with them and, second, that she accepted, but he sure didn’t say anything. Howard and his father shaved, showered, and donned their suits and left in time to go by and get Delia.

When they arrived at Delia’s, they both got out of the car and went up to the porch. Howard knocked, and Mr. McPherson answered the door. Howard introduced his father, first to Mr. McPherson and then to Delia’s mother. Mrs. McPherson said, Delia should be out in a moment or two.

J. B. said, I just met your daughter today and really admire her. She’s sharp as a tack. She must take after her parents.

She’s been a blessing to us, said Mr. McPherson.

J. B. said, If I were thirty years younger, I’d be camping on your doorstep until she opened the door. The McPherson’s laughed. Just then, Delia walked into the room. She was wearing a tailored suit with a bright yellow blouse. The suit was Navy blue with a white stripe on each side of the coat. She looked like a million bucks.

J. B. said, We’d better get going, and extended his arm to Delia. They went to the car and J. B. opened the front door for Delia. She said, I’ll sit in the back, Mr. Henderson.

J. B. said, You’ll do no such thing, I’m sitting in the back. She knew you didn’t argue with J. B.

They arrived at the university and had quite a walk to the auditorium. Both men extended their arms, and Delia took them both. She said, "I really feel honored to have two handsome men escorting me to the play."

J. B. said, I told your parents that if I were thirty years younger, I’d be camping on their doorstep waiting for you to come out.

Delia chuckled and said, I’ll bet you were something else thirty years ago. Howard was quiet as he’d learned a long time ago that when J. B. had the floor, you kept quiet. About then they entered the auditorium and took their seats. Hal saw them come in and came over to greet them.

Hi, Papa, he said, I’m really glad you could make it down for this.

I wouldn’t miss it, son, said J. B.

And, Delia, what a pleasant surprise, said Hal as he hugged her and kissed her on the cheek.

Since I was asked by your father, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see you act, said Delia.

I am so grateful, said Hal, and to see you too, big brother, as he shook Howard’s hand. Well, I think I need to go take my place.

Break a leg, as they say in showbiz, said Howard.

It was a nice play, a comedy. Hal played the part of a jilted lover. After the final curtain, Hal came over and said, I’m riding with y’all back to Howard’s.

They walked back to the car and Howard opened the front door for Delia. We have to take Delia home on the way, said J. B. to Hal.

My father has some thirty-year-old brandy he saves for special occasions, and I don’t know of anything more special than participating in college extracurricular activities. Would you fellows like to come in and have a drink to celebrate? asked Delia.

Are you sure your father won’t think we’re imposing? asked Howard.

Absolutely not, said Delia, he is a professor at the University of Houston and values a college education very highly. It wasn’t very late, and the McPhersons were sitting in the living room reading.

Delia said, Mom, Dad, this is Howard’s brother, Hal. He just performed in a great play at Rice. I took the liberty of asking these gentlemen in for a snifter of your aged brandy to celebrate Hal’s participation in a special college activity.

By all means, said Mr. McPherson, there are few occasions that are more notable than working toward a college education. With that, he fetched a bottle of brandy and poured each a shot. He then said, Mr. Henderson, since Hal is your son, please propose the toast.

Thank you, Mr. McPherson, May Hal’s education be put to good use and may all of us live long happy lives. All said Hear, hear! and drank their brandy. J. B. said, We’d better be going, but I certainly want to thank you for your hospitality and especially you, Delia, for coming with us. I think Hal was more pleased to see you than Howard and me.

Mr. McPherson said, Thank you for stopping and sharing this happy moment with Patricia and me.

As they were driving away, J. B. said, Now there’s a coincidence, my wife and your mother’s name was Patricia as is Delia’s mother. Howard, you’re an idiot if you don’t marry that girl.

Like I told you, Papa, she won’t have anything to do with me away from the office, said Howard.

I told you I had a long talk with her while you were chasing flow meters and whatnot. Have you asked her out lately? asked J. B.

No, said Howard, I don’t want to offend her and have her run off again.

Hal said, She seems to like me okay, why don’t I say something to her?

J. B. said, That won’t be necessary, I’ve already talked to her. She said deep down, she liked Howard, but she’s afraid he’ll never ask her out again since she brushed him off so coldly last time.

Howard said, I can do my own damn talking. I don’t need any help from you two.

J. B., not to be outdone, said, Then you’d better hurry up and start talking or somebody will snatch that beautiful girl right out from under your nose.

Hal said, Papa, it sounds like you’re trying to get big brother married off.

I was never one to miss opportunities and I’d hoped to raise my sons that way, said J. B.

The next morning they rode together to the office. J. B.’s Lincoln was there as was Hal’s Pontiac. J. B. told his sons that he needed to get back to East Texas and see what was going on. Delia was already in the office, so J. B. went and hugged her and told her goodbye. He also told her to say goodbye to her parents for him and he hoped to see them again. She told J. B. they would be disappointed if he were down here and didn’t stop in to see them. He promised to do that.

Hal had to go check tank levels to see if the inventory matched the tickets in Delia’s office. There appeared to be a discrepancy that had to be resolved before any more oil could be pumped to the refineries. Hal and Delia were poring over the records at 5:00 p.m. Hal came and got Howard and told him they were stymied and that he should come and take a look in case he could see something they missed. Howard went over the dispatches, tickets, and inventory levels. He told Hal to recheck one of the tanks because the inventory level looked too high. He told Hal to check it manually if the gauge showed the same percentage.

Hal returned and reported that Howard had found the problem. He stated the gauge showed 80 percent, but the actual level, when measured manually, was only 15 percent. Hal said, I’ve got a date, folks, so I’m outta here, and he left.

Howard went to his office and Delia came by and asked if there was anything else before she left. He wanted to ask her out to dinner but hesitated. So instead he said, No, I guess that’s about it, unless you want to go to dinner with me. He blurted that out without really intending to.

Delia said, I’m starved, where are you taking me?

Have you been to that new French restaurant over on Bowie? he asked.

No, she said, but I hear the food’s really good, said Delia.

Let’s give it a try, said Howard.

Sounds good to me, said Delia.

Leave your car here, and I’ll bring you back after we finish, said Howard.

They drove to the restaurant and chatted about the office. Howard told Delia how much he appreciated what she did. She told Howard she loved the work, that it was challenging sometimes, but that’s what made the job so interesting. She told Howard that she was one of those rare people that looked forward to going to work each morning.

The restaurant was very nice. They ordered chateaubriand for two and had a glass of rich red wine. They finished dinner and were driving back to the office when Howard asked Delia if she were doing anything tomorrow night. Delia told Howard she had nothing planned.

Howard said, Would you like to take in a movie tomorrow night?

I’d love to, said Delia.

Oh great, said Howard, I’ll find out what time the movie starts, give you a call, pick you up in time for dinner, and maybe slip over to the Palms after the movie and dance a little while, if that’s okay.

"Wow! exclaimed Delia. Sounds like a fun evening to me. I’ll be eagerly awaiting your call."

At that time they arrived at the office, and Howard walked Delia over to her car. Howard said, Could I kiss you good night?

Delia said, I’d be disappointed if you didn’t. I would think something was wrong with me. He kissed her long and tenderly. She returned his kiss with equal warmth and her arms firmly around his neck.

I could get to liking that, said Howard.

So could I, replied Delia. Howard then opened her car door, and she got inside.

Good night, Delia, said Howard.

Good night, she said, I’ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow night. And with that she started her car and drove away.

Howard found out that a good Clark Gable movie was playing in a theater not far from a good steakhouse near downtown Houston. The show started at 7:00 p.m. and over just before 9:00 p.m. He made reservations at the steakhouse for 5:00 p.m. Howard phoned Delia and told her he would pick her up around 4:20 p.m. She told him she would be ready. Howard stopped by a florist and bought a nice bouquet to take to Delia. When he knocked at the front door, Mrs. McPherson answered and asked Howard in.

What a beautiful flower arrangement, said Mrs. McPherson.

I hope Delia likes them, said Howard. Just then Delia walked into the room.

What pretty flowers! exclaimed Delia.

I hoped you’d like them, said Howard.

They’re really lovely and so thoughtful of you, said Delia.

Mrs. McPherson took the flowers away and returned in a few minutes with them in a vase and arranged perfectly. Mr. McPherson came in and shook hands with Howard. He told his wife to go get his camera, and he would make a picture of the flowers for Delia to keep.

Delia went over and hugged her father and said, Thanks so much, Dad.

Howard said, We’d better be going. Our dinner reservations are for five.

As they were going to the restaurant, Delia said, Howard, I really appreciate your thoughtfulness in bringing me flowers. That’s the first time a date ever brought me a bouquet. My dad knew that, and that’s why he took the picture.

Now I’m really glad I brought them, although as pretty as you are, it’s hard to believe that nobody ever brought you flowers, said Howard.

Delia scooted over next to Howard, put her arm around his shoulders, and said, Well, you really made me feel special and I love it.

Just then they arrived at the restaurant. They had an excellent meal, took in the movie, and danced until 2:00 a.m. Howard got Delia home just before 3:00 a.m.

Will your parents be mad because you stayed out so late? asked Howard.

I’m twenty-three years old, Howard, making me a grown woman. Although I live with my parents, they don’t question my comings and goings.

I just don’t want them to get mad at me because I had a wonderful time, said Howard.

Oh, so did I, Howard, said Delia, it was a memorable date. They were on the porch and Howard kissed Delia very warmly and tenderly. She returned his kiss with her arms wrapped snuggly around his neck.

Good night, said Howard, are you doing anything tomorrow?

So far, she said, I have no plans.

I’ll give you a call tomorrow, said Howard.

Good night, Howard, said Delia.

Howard and Delia dated quite often the rest of that year and into the next. In mid-March 1933, they were returning from a stage play and Howard pulled into the driveway of Delia’s home.

He said, Delia, when Papa was down here a few months ago, he told me I would be an idiot if I didn’t marry you. Since I don’t want to be an idiot, will you marry me?

Delia laughed and said, Howard, that’s the damnedest proposal I’ve ever heard of, but yes, I would be honored to be your wife.

Howard pulled out a little felt jewelry box and said, I bought this yesterday in hopes you’d say yes. He slipped the diamond solitaire onto her left ring finger and showed her the matching wedding band.

You were pretty sure of yourself, weren’t you? asked Delia.

No, not really, but I’ve always been very optimistic, he said.

I guess we should set a date, said Delia.

The sooner the better, as far as I’m concerned, said Howard.

I’ve always thought I’d like to be a June bride, said Delia.

That would work out great, said Howard. Hal will be out for summer vacation from college and can run the business while we honeymoon in Europe. Howard continued, Could we live here until I find us a house?

Of course, we have plenty of room, said Delia, Wow! Honeymoon in Europe, she exclaimed.

It’s getting late, said Howard, I’d better get you inside.

They kissed good night on the porch and Howard went home.

Monday morning Howard called Delia into his office and asked her if any of her staff could take over for her. She told Howard that a girl named Doris had finished business college and had really shown an aptitude for management as well as the technical end of the business, so she has become the unofficial assistant in the office.

Howard said, Make it official and start training her to take your place.

Should I give her a pay raise? asked Delia.

By all means, said Howard.

I can make it temporary until we return from our honeymoon and I’m back on the job, said Delia.

That’s just it, said Howard, You ain’t coming back. You’ll have a full-time job taking care of me. As of May 31, you’re retiring from working to start planning to be a housewife. You’ll have a wedding to plan, a honeymoon to Europe to arrange, and an assortment of other duties, so you won’t have time for a job.

What’ll I use for money if I’m not working? she asked.

There will be a joint checking account at your bank in both our names, and you can change your name on the account when we’re married. There will be adequate money in that account for all your needs as the initial deposit will be $25,000. If more is needed, just let me know.

Oh, Howard, I’ll be the best wife you could ever get, I promise you.

Now, tell me something I didn’t already know, said Howard.

I’d better start now in this new direction. This is life changing, said Delia. Delia went back to her office and made sure everybody saw her ring.

Howard called his father and told him of his and Delia’s impending wedding. J. B. was elated and told his son as soon as he knew the date in June to be sure and let him know as he wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Howard and Delia were married the second Saturday afternoon in June 1933. Hal was Howard’s best man, and Delia’s father gave her away. They spent the night in a hotel that they didn’t disclose and caught the train the next day to New York and their ocean liner to England. They went to Paris, Rome, and Naples by train and returned from Rome by ship. All in all, they were gone two and a half months.

Hal had everything shipshape for Howard when he got back. J. B. had been down to help him out part of the time. The business was growing and flourishing. J. B. split the profits three ways between himself, Howard, and Hal, holding Hal’s portion in trust until he was twenty-one. J. B. and Howard both received nice salaries as did Hal when he worked in the business part-time. Howard and Delia were living with Delia’s parents until they could find a place of their own.

Howard came home from work one afternoon two weeks after their return from Europe and told Delia he had found them a house. He wanted her to see it before he made a deal to buy it. They drove through some of the nicer sections of Houston out to the edge of town and drove up to a house with a circular driveway in front. Delia